The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) branch in Lagos State has denounced the wave of violence and attacks that it states marked the state’s and the nation’s March 18, 2023, governorship and state house of assembly elections.
Hakeem Amode, the PDP’s publicity secretary and head of the media and publicity team for the JandorFunke 2023 Campaign Council, made the remark in a statement on Sunday in response to the election results.Amode stated, “We are using this medium to condemn the spate of violence and attacks that trailed the Governorship/State House of Assembly Elections, which took place in the state and across the country on Saturday, March 18, 2023.
“Our agents and indeed members of our party were witnesses to some of the violence and attacks in many areas of Lagos State including Apapa, Ajegunle, Okota, Isolo, Oshodi, and others areas.
“This is quite unbecoming of a state as metropolitan as Lagos, where things are expected to be done in conformity with democratic norms.
“We found it appalling that hoodlums, many of whom are said to be working for the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), were behind the violence that was witnessed at several polling units across the state, which disrupted the electoral process.
“This is quite surprising as the APC is a signatory to the peace accord that preceded the election.
“One wonders why the APC and its agents resorted to violence despite the claims that they have worked hard and would naturally win the governorship and state house of assembly elections.
“As a party, we believe that what took place in Lagos State today was not an election, but a mockery of our democracy.”
According to Amode, there were accounts of killings in some parts of the state, in addition to the intimidation and harassment of eligible voters. He continued: “We are using this medium to call on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the security agencies to investigate the exercise and come up with a full report of the election and evaluate the whole process.
“What happened in Lagos State today (Saturday) was not an election, but a charade and it would be a surprise if at the end of the day the candidate of the APC, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, is declared as the winner when people were prevented from voting in the strongholds of the opposition party, especially those of the PDP.
“Our democracy must be protected at this material time and no one should be allowed to truncate what all of us fought for and what we ought to enjoy together.
A word is enough for the wise.”